Following the Greek government’s announcement to enforce a social media ban for under-15s, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has defended the plan and indicated that gaming and online gambling will be the next sectors subject to age-based restrictions.
Citing concerns over mental health, Mitsotakis criticised social media platforms for their “infinite scrolling” design which aim to increase user time.
“Parents are desperate,” he said, acknowledging that the new restriction would give them “two weapons” in telling their children that social media use is illegal under the new rules and referring to the introduction of mandatory age verification by platforms which will be imposed from January 1, 2027.
Mitsotakis urged parents to consult the government platform parco.gov.gr for guidance on device settings and application restrictions while confirming that social media companies will be required to verify users’ ages.
He emphasised that the restriction is part of a broader initiative where gaming and online gambling will be addressed next.
Mitsotakis said Artificial Intelligence and its impact on education are also on the government’s radar.
“Do we want Artificial Intelligence and these applications to do our children’s homework, or should children do it themselves?” he questioned. “It is a reality — let’s not kid ourselves — it is already happening today as we speak.”
Source: Kathimerini
